While Its obviously not the kind of stuff my band does (in fact the total opposite), I've always had a huge amount of respect for people like Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman's songwriting factory. Or the old Tin Pan Alley stuff. Or Lennon/Mcartney as a songwriting team, same goes for the Wilson brothers from the Beach Boys.

its hard as fuck to write an "earworm" song - something that will stick in your head because of the hook and chord progression. Let alone to do that and actually say something with a shred of artistic integrity.

I'm not interested in defending my cult cred enough to the point where I dont say that something like "a day in the life" is a magnificent achievement because it combines really clever chord changes, interesting and totally innovative at the time production techniques with lyrics that were totally in-and-of their time._________________"14 words: we must secure the depravation of the children and ruin the whole fucking world..."

Pop metal is the perfect term for this kind of thing, i.e. Poppy songs with clear, simple melody, song structures and maybe a catchphrase / chorus or two just played with "metal" instruments and sound.

Queen is really the ultimate answer to this thread. Killer playing, awesome vocals, really sharp songwriting and often surprisingly heavy. Really makes most other "metal" bands trying to do that style pretty redundant._________________"14 words: we must secure the depravation of the children and ruin the whole fucking world..."